01
lieb
nice / kind
Describes a person or behavior as nice, friendly, and kind-hearted.
example
Sie ist ein wirklich lieber Mensch und hilft, wo sie nur kann.
She is a really kind person and helps wherever she can.
lieb
nice / dear
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 05
Usage tips
Superlative: am liebsten
The comparative form 'am liebsten' is used very frequently to express a preference. It means 'more than anything else' and is often combined with verbs like 'mögen' (to like), 'essen' (to eat), 'trinken' (to drink), or 'machen' (to do/make).
EXAMPLE
Am liebsten trinke ich morgens einen Kaffee.
What I like most in the morning is drinking a coffee.
Adjective use
Like most adjectives, 'lieb' can stand before a noun (attributive) or be used with verbs like 'sein' (to be) or 'wirken' (to seem/appear) (predicative). Before a noun, it is declined.
EXAMPLE
Das ist aber eine liebe Geste von dir.
That's a very kind gesture from you.
Fixed expression: lieb haben
The expression 'jemanden lieb haben' (to be fond of someone / to love someone dearly) works grammatically in a similar way to a separable verb. The object is in the accusative, and 'lieb' stands at the end of the sentence. It expresses deep, familiar affection.
EXAMPLE
Mama, ich hab dich ganz doll lieb.
Mom, I love you very, very much.
Use in greetings
In letters and emails, 'lieb' is used as a form of address and declined accordingly. You write 'Lieber' (Dear) for a man, 'Liebe' (Dear) for a woman, and 'Liebe' (Dear) for a group of people.
EXAMPLE
Lieber Max, vielen Dank für deine Nachricht.
Dear Max, thank you very much for your message.
Context: children & animals
In the meaning 'brav' (well-behaved) or 'gehorsam' (obedient), 'lieb' is used almost only for children and sometimes for pets. It is often part of a request or praise.
EXAMPLE
War der Hund heute lieb, als er allein zu Hause war?
Was the dog good today while he was home alone?
Fixed expression
The phrase 'lieb und teuer' (dear and precious) is a fixed expression. It means that something is emotionally very important or valuable to someone, regardless of its material value.
EXAMPLE
Das alte Fotoalbum meiner Großmutter ist mir lieb und teuer.
My grandmother's old photo album is dear and precious to me.
Compare with
lieb vs lieben
to love
'lieb haben' and 'lieben' both express strong affection for a person. 'lieben' is usually stronger and often fits romantic relationships or very close family relationships. 'lieb haben' sounds softer and more personal, often with children, parents, grandparents, or close friends. You can say 'Ich habe dich lieb' when it sounds warm and close, but not necessarily romantic. Learners may confuse the forms because 'lieb' and 'lieben' look similar. The important point is: 'lieb' is part of the fixed expression 'lieb haben', while 'lieben' is a verb of its own.
lieb
Ich habe meine kleine Schwester sehr lieb.
I am very fond of my little sister.
lieben
Tom liebt seine Frau und spricht oft liebevoll von ihr.
Tom loves his wife and often speaks of her lovingly.
In real life
Loading video examples...